A new order in the Medina Spirit case requires attorneys for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, trainer Bob Baffert, and owner Amr Zedan to submit a set of documents to the new hearing officer, Eden Savis Stephens, by Dec. 22, reports bloodhorse.com.
The filings are to contain proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law based on the evidence submitted during a six-day appeal hearing before hearing officer Clay Patrick back in August. They may also contain briefs or written arguments.
Zedan appealed the disqualification of Medina Spirit – who has since died – and Baffert wants the $7,500 fine and 90-day suspension he already served erased. Medina Spirit was disqualified after a positive test for betamethasone, which Baffert and Zedan attorneys said resulted from an ointment used to treat a skin rash on the colt.
After the filings are submitted, Stephens will be able to make a recommendation to the KHRC which either affirms or denies Medina Spirit's disqualification. The recommendation would then go to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, which can accept, reject or amend it. It remains to be seen if any commission members, a number of which have directly or indirectly conducted business with Baffert and/0r Zedan, will recuse themselves from the matter.
Read more at bloodhorse.com.
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